85

"You're more than a friend, Alexius. You're brilliant and charming and, all right, rather devious, but I like that about you, too."

Alexius smiles, but you can see the pain in his expression. "I like you, Crowchar," he says. "And of course, I like how you look. But…" He runs his hand through his black hair. "It's not like that. I'm sorry." He shrugs uncomfortably and takes a step back.

The forest spares him the indignity of an awkward exit, dropping vines like a stage curtain between him and you. He spares you one last pained and longing glance, then disappears into the shadows.

Suddenly alone, you wander up a low hill. Sounds of a village council reach you from below. Kothis and his lieutenants are discussing Stralchus, the False Icon, the dangers that beset them and those that they have already overcome. There is news that the Ziggurat's soldiers have struck not only at the ophidians but also at the downriver tribes.

The River People mention you favorably on several occasions.

But then you hear shouting from the edge of the village. It's several of the Bridge Keepers, just returned from a scouting expedition.

"Emissaries!" one of the Bridge Keepers shouts. "Emissaries from the Ziggurat are coming!"

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